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Capt. Derek C. Kruger (M.M.)
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1 year ago
in Sea Stories - Training At Sea on gCaptain
John, I started out 45 yrs ago on tankers as a training O.S. and did my time there until I was tested for O.S. & later as an A.B. on cargo ships. During this time I kept learning the art of seamenship from others, as well as teaching myself to do better. Some years later having sailed Nationally and Internationally I decided to write for my third mate's license . Having obtained this I never stopped there and now hold a Master Mariner's Certificate/License.
Today as a ship's master I have come to see the good, fair, poor, and "God, what the hell is he or she doing here aboard this ship". Yes, the art of seamenship is a dying art that does not only affect unlicensed seamen. It affects some of the deck and engineering officer's that I have come across during my career at sea. These mariner's I am speaking about are not just what you see Nationally, but Internationally as well makes me wonder who let these people get on board the ships. (The Company & Manning Agencies)
When it comes to working with these good folks, you are told by the company that you are not here to re-invent the word "seamenship". Just work with what we give you !! My response to this type of comment is. " What happens if something horribly goes wrong while having to put up with someone that does not know the first thing about loading stresses. Or causes a major marine incident that ends up costing the company and the P&I Club one hell of a lot of money, not to mention Corporate Reputation". All because of the lack of experience that some mariner's should have gained over the course of time, or the shore side hiring practices used.
Comments most generally made by the company should this happen is; "Well Captain you should have know better than to give them that job " !!
To complain about these in-experienced officer's or crew (deck or engine) not being able to do the work assigned to them. If you say anything then you put your own job/position on the line. Very few companies or agencies will never accept their own short comings, when placing crew's on board. Therefore it is always the Captains fault, or so it seems.
The important thing to remember here is that there's some who are prepared to learn regardless. While there are others that think that they know more then you!! Then there are those that are here only for a pay cheque and don't mind it if you know it or not. So if the Company or the Agencies that hired them don't care, then why should you care !!
As a professional l mariner spanning a period of 45 years at sea, I still or do care and it is sad to see it come to this !!
Captain Derek C. Kruger
Master Mariner
Today as a ship's master I have come to see the good, fair, poor, and "God, what the hell is he or she doing here aboard this ship". Yes, the art of seamenship is a dying art that does not only affect unlicensed seamen. It affects some of the deck and engineering officer's that I have come across during my career at sea. These mariner's I am speaking about are not just what you see Nationally, but Internationally as well makes me wonder who let these people get on board the ships. (The Company & Manning Agencies)
When it comes to working with these good folks, you are told by the company that you are not here to re-invent the word "seamenship". Just work with what we give you !! My response to this type of comment is. " What happens if something horribly goes wrong while having to put up with someone that does not know the first thing about loading stresses. Or causes a major marine incident that ends up costing the company and the P&I Club one hell of a lot of money, not to mention Corporate Reputation". All because of the lack of experience that some mariner's should have gained over the course of time, or the shore side hiring practices used.
Comments most generally made by the company should this happen is; "Well Captain you should have know better than to give them that job " !!
To complain about these in-experienced officer's or crew (deck or engine) not being able to do the work assigned to them. If you say anything then you put your own job/position on the line. Very few companies or agencies will never accept their own short comings, when placing crew's on board. Therefore it is always the Captains fault, or so it seems.
The important thing to remember here is that there's some who are prepared to learn regardless. While there are others that think that they know more then you!! Then there are those that are here only for a pay cheque and don't mind it if you know it or not. So if the Company or the Agencies that hired them don't care, then why should you care !!
As a professional l mariner spanning a period of 45 years at sea, I still or do care and it is sad to see it come to this !!
Captain Derek C. Kruger
Master Mariner
1 reply
Please let me explain; Years ago there was training programs that sailors had to follow in order to advance upward within the industry. This is very rare to say the lease these days and now that the STCW requires the new generation of sailors to be licensed as "Bridge Watch Keeping Certificate" as the first step. What does this mean. It simply says that a person that intends to work on a boat / ship is required to "check mark" a questionnaire of not more then thirty questions / answers. A first year novas canoer could pass between paddle strokes, it is how easy. Now armed with this "BWK" certificate, the companies require you to sign these young canidates on as (ABS) able body seamen. None know anything regarding how to make fast a mooring rope, or how to apply a rope stopper. Yes, most not to knowing how to tie a nautical knot. The regulations also states that this certificate is not an "ABS Proficiency Certificate." Knowing this you are up against the system / company. Let something go wrong by giving these new sailors a job that they should know how to do but can not. Evently someone gets hurt because of their lack of knowledge of what they were to do. Now put yourself in a position that the company has placed you in, for accepting these new breed of sailors. You also accept liabilities that are far reaching should this injury result in death. I personally have come to experience this, all because one man did not do what he was told because of the lack of experience he was supposed to have. This lead to legal action and a Coast Guard Investigation that lasted for two years. Only at that time was the findings released that said that this deceased man died becaused of his our action and inexperience.
This system that created this problem ie; STCW and the Companies that go forward by placing you in a difficult position all be it because they really don't give a dam, as long as the job gets done. Nor do they come to the defence of the Ship's Master, as they / owners refuse to take blame for their short comings, is the way I see it.
I have also experienced officers that started out loading a ship that went wrong and came banging at your door to say, that they not sure why the ship is not going to the preloading plan, all because they did not follow the loading plan. This list / history can go on, but there is not enought room here to cover all incidences, so I will stop here.
I have being commanding ships at the age of thirty old, while holding a Master's Certificate at the age of twenty-six. I am now 62 years old and still commanding ships both very large, medum, and small. I can say with certainty that my retirement is just around the corner and I am darn glad of it. To be a teacher is one thing of which I truely enjoy, when you have those who really want to learn. There are and will be others that don't want to know regardless. If they make a mistake of which some do, you must remember "the buck stops at the Master's door to settle claims made against the owners, or by the grieving parties" !!
Captain Derek C. Kruger
Master Mariner